Morning news headlines for February 24, 2014

Everything you need to stay up to date around the globe

Flowers cover one of the barricades heading to Kiev's Independence Square, the epicenter of Ukraine's recent unrest

HAGUE TALKS TO RUSSIANS ON UKRAINE

Foreign Secretary William Hague is due to speak to his Russian counterpart today as tensions run high over the future of Ukraine.

Mr Hague has warned that it would not be in Russia’s interests to intervene militarily in the crisis on its borders amid fears that Moscow could send in troops.

The Foreign Secretary said there was a ”moment of opportunity” in Ukraine after MPs voted to oust president Viktor Yanukovych and hold fresh elections in May, but acknowledged there were ”still many dangers” for the country.

PM TO LAY OUT OIL PRODUCTION PLANS

David Cameron will today set out measures to boost oil production as the North Sea becomes the latest battleground in the Scottish independence campaign.

The Prime Minister, who will chair a meeting of the Cabinet in Aberdeen, has accepted the main recommendations in an expert review of the industry that could result in an extra four billion barrels of oil being recovered.

Mr Cameron insisted that the ”broad shoulders” of the UK Government were able to support investment in the industry, as Downing Street warned that volatility in the oil market could have a dramatic effect on Scottish finances in the event of independence, with the smaller economy less able to absorb the impact of a fall in revenue.

COUNCILS IN EMERGENCY FUND PLEA

Councils have urged the Government to rethink a decision to scrap a £347 million fund used to provide emergency support for households.

The Local Government Association (LGA), which represents authorities in England and Wales, said the fund was used to help families faced with being made homeless and paid for food vouchers for those struggling to afford meals.

The organisation said it was ”extremely disappointing” that the latest funding settlement for councils revealed that the fund would not be renewed in 2015.

HSBC CHIEF TIPPED FOR PAY INCREASE

HSBC’s chief executive is in line for a big salary increase as the bank prepares to announce profits of nearly £15 billion for the last year.

The pay rise reportedly under consideration for Stuart Gulliver will enable the bank to get round new European rules preventing bankers from being paid bonuses worth more than two times their salary.

According to the Sunday Times, HSBC’s annual report will show Mr Gulliver was paid about £7.5 million for last year, including bonuses and benefits worth about five times his basic salary.

NOW THE TALKING IS OVER FOR MORGAN

Piers Morgan’s prime time talk show on US TV network CNN is set to end.

CNN said today that the date of the final edition of Piers Morgan Live has yet to be decided.

Morgan replaced Larry King in the 9pm slot three years ago and has interviewed statesmen and celebrities - but his show has had lacklustre ratings.

WIFE ACCUSES UK OVER MISSING BRITON

The wife of a British businessman of Iranian origin who is feared to have been abducted and murdered in Dubai has blamed the UK Government for ”putting his life in danger”.

The whereabouts of Abbas Yazdi, 44, remain unknown after the emirate£s authorities last month arrested three Iranian men in connection with his disappearance.

Mr Yazdi’s case has caused controversy, with claims that the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) handed over hundreds of files from his computers to the Iranian authorities following a request made through the Home Office.

INQUIRY AS TWO FOUND DEAD IN HOUSE

Police have launched a major investigation after two bodies were found in a house.

Officers were called to the scene in Echline Gardens, South Queensferry, near Edinburgh, at around 5pm yesterday.

The deaths are being treated as unexplained.

’SPY IN SKY’ CRAFT FLIGHTS TO BEGIN

The Army’s latest ”spy in the sky” unmanned aircraft is due to begin flying over British skies this week.

Watchkeeper, a reconnaissance and surveillance unmanned air system (UAS), has a wingspan of 35ft (10.7m) and can fly at an altitude of up to 16,000ft (4,876.8m).

It has been designed to loiter over areas of interest for ”significantly longer” than existing systems, providing clear surveillance pictures to troops on the ground.

THREE DEAD IN ATTACK ON PROTESTERS

Two young siblings and a woman were killed in an apparent grenade attack against anti-government protesters occupying an upmarket shopping area of Thailand’s capital yesterday.

It was the latest violence in a months-long political crisis that is growing bloodier by the day.

The attack was near the Ratchaprasong junction in the heart of Bangkok, home to major shopping malls and luxury hotels.

GAY PLAYER’S DEAL MAKES NBA HISTORY

Equal rights campaigners have praised an openly gay basketball player and his new team after he made history by signing a contract with the Brooklyn Nets.

Jason Collins is to become the first openly gay player in NBA history after signing a 10-day contract with the team this weekend.

British-based gay rights charity Stonewall said the deal - signed after Collins came out during an interview last year - sent positive messages to gay, bisexual and lesbian sportsmen and women.

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Mark Thoma

Liverpool-born Mark joined the Daily Post in January 2014 after seven years as editor of its Merseyside sister title the Liverpool Post. He started out as a weekly news reporter on Wirral Newspapers, and spent seven years at the Daily Post and Liverpool Echo. He was The Press Association's regional correspondent for North Wales, Merseyside and Cheshire from 1983 to 1997, before returning to the ECHO as deputy news editor. He has won a number of journalism awards, including the UK Press Gazzette Regional Reporter of the Year award, and in 1993 wrote a book on the James Bulger murder.